Houthis Claim New Attacks on Riyadh Airport in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia faced a renewed security threat at its capital's international airport on Sunday, October 11, 2026, after a projectile struck a passenger terminal a day after a missile attack killed 12 people and injured around 300. The escalation involving the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen has heightened concerns about civilian safety, regional aviation, oil supplies, and potential US military involvement.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis confirmed the latest strike at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, according to The Associated Press. Authorities had not immediately provided further details about the impact on terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights. The airport remained closed on Sunday.

Saturday's attack was the deadliest incident in a Gulf Arab country since the Iran war began, with approximately 300 people wounded, some critically. Saudi authorities identified the 12 fatalities as four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, and one citizen each from Palestine, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Sudan.

The escalation comes as US President Donald Trump considers whether to join military operations against the Houthis. The White House had not issued an immediate comment on Sunday's developments, while Trump said on Saturday that he planned to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Houthis also announced further action against the airport in Sanaa, Yemen's rebel-held capital, and blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack. The group's renewed operations have raised concerns about the possibility of a wider confrontation involving regional powers and the United States.

The Houthis issued a warning to travelers and aviation personnel as attacks on Saudi infrastructure continued.

"All airlines, experts, employees, workers and travelers against using Saudi airports and airspace, as they are vulnerable to attack and have become a theater of operations for our forces," the Houthis warned.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the group's military spokesperson, subsequently wrote on X that airports in Mecca and Medina were exempt from the warning. Saudi Arabia had previously described Mecca as a protected location.

"Red line," Saudi Arabia said in describing its position on Mecca.

The conflict also threatens commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway at the southern end of the Red Sea near Yemen. The passage provides an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has been attacking ships during the broader conflict.

A US military intervention could prompt the Houthis to disrupt shipping through Bab el-Mandeb and further restrict oil shipments from the Persian Gulf. The Saudi-led coalition has been providing air support to Yemeni government forces seeking to reverse recent Houthi gains near the strait, where fighting has intensified.

Saudi Arabia has also faced pressure on its air defense capabilities. Regional officials previously told The Associated Press that the kingdom was running low on missile interceptors and had requested assistance from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt. One official said the United States had also seen its interceptor supplies decline during the war with Iran.

The latest attacks threaten Saudi Arabia's efforts to attract international investment, tourism, and business activity. Sunday's strike occurred as the kingdom hosted a major international energy conference in Riyadh, with additional high-profile events, including an investment gathering, approaching.

Meanwhile, the Houthi-run health ministry reported that a child was killed and six people were wounded in a suspected Saudi airstrike on a house in Sanaa on Sunday. The ministry said 91 Yemenis had been killed by the Saudi-led coalition over five weeks, including women and children who accounted for 60% of the deaths. Saudi authorities had not immediately responded to those claims.

The Houthis and Saudi Arabia have fought since 2015, when the kingdom intervened in Yemen's civil war in support of the internationally recognized government. Relative calm following a 2022 ceasefire ended in July, when the Houthis resumed attacks and accused Saudi Arabia of targeting Sanaa airport as an Iranian aircraft attempted to land.

The renewed hostilities have drawn the Houthis more directly into the broader Iran conflict. The group, which has strengthened its military capabilities in recent years, has targeted Saudi airports and oil and military installations as tensions spread across the region.